30 questions on your tray placemat

The legendary Shakespeare and Company bookshop 
has opened a cafe last mid-october (2015)

Rue Saint Julien le Pauvre

It’s located at the corner of rue de la Bucherie and rue St Julien le Pauvre, next-door to Shakespeare and Company bookshop, with a view over Notre Dame.     Link to Shakespeare and Company bookstore article

History : George Whitman wanted a literary cafe next to his bookstore, many decades ago.

“I’ve got to get back the upstairs, and I’m going to open a literary café. Everything will be cooked under my supervision. There’s only one way to make a good lemon pie, you know.” — George Whitman, 1969.

A cafe as imagined by George Whitman in the 1960s and illustrated by James King

A cafe as imagined by George Whitman in the 1960s and illustrated by James King

 

Sylvia Whitman, George Whitman’s daughter, wanted to honor her father’s wishes and she made the George Whitman’s drawings a reality. The adjacent (vacant) property which used to be a stationery shop has been empty for over twenty years and so was officially available.

In October 2015, the café opened, next door to the antiquarian section of the bookshop.

The retro 70s floor tiles and the old stone walls have been preserved. Inside, some countertop seats, a few tables and chairs and more seating outside on benches.

 

                                                    Inside the cafe

Not any coffee, nor any tea... 
but high standards. Delicious

The Shakespeare and Company cafe serve soups of the day,pies, hand-rolled bagels, finger sandwiches, baked goods, vegan and gluten-free dishes , cookies (peanut butter cookies, chocolate  cookies, dark chocolate matcha cookies), brownies, lemon tarts, scones, pressed juices, smoothies of the day, coffee, tea…

They offer literary themed products too, such as : a special “Shakespeare Shake” ( = the smoothie of the day), the “Flapjack Kerouac”, the “Bun also rises”, the “Lunchpack of Notre Dame” (picnic baskets filled with wine to take away for some Seine-side dining) !!!!

30 questions on your tray placemat

30 questions on your tray placemat

A version of the legendary Proust questionnaire on each placemat lining every tray. (30 questions on your placemat)

The cafe is working with some great suppliers  :

The food is supplied by Bob’s kitchen : organic, and largely vegetarian food. Bob’s kitchen is run by Marc Grossman, an American born and raised in Manhattan. It’s also a restaurant located in the 3d arrondissement of Paris. 

The coffee is supplied by the Parisan roaster Café Lomi. Cafe Lomi is also a cafe located in the 18th arrondissement of Paris

The tea is supplied by London Postcard Tea, a London-based company featuring popular and rare teas.

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My advice :

Really gorgeous. everytime I go to Shakespeare and Company cafe, I enjoy the atmosphere and a top quality products : coffee, tea…Gorgeous cookies… etc

If you find yourself browsing at Shakespeare and Company next door,

If you visit the Latin Quarter,

If you’ve got some free time and nothing special to do,

………………………………………………………………………………………..    , visit the Shakespeare and Company café !!

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Addresses

Shakespeare and Company : 37 rue de la Bûcherie – Paris 5 – Metro stop Saint Michel                                                                           Monday to Friday 10 to 18h30   Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 19.30

London Postcard :  http://www.postcardteas.com/site/

Café Lomi : 3 ter Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris, France

 Monday to Sunday : 10 am to 7 pm

Bob’s kitchen : Several places  74 rue des Gravilliers – Paris 3 – Metro Stop : arts et Métiers The restaurant serves breakfast, vegetarian and vegetalian meals and snacks, Monday to Friday : 8am to 3 pm Saturday and sunday : 8am to 4 pm TEL. 09.52.55.11.66

Also : Bob’s juice bar – 15 rue Lucien Sampaix – Paris 10   Monday to Friday 7.30 am to 3 pm Saturday 8.30am to 4pm TEL. 09.50.06.36.18

And Bob’s Bake Shop – Halle Pajol – 12 esplanade Nathalie Sarraute – Paris 18 – Everyday 8am to 4pm – TEL. 09.84.46.25.26

 

Sorbonne Place

The Latin Quarter is located on the Left Bank, between the Seine and the Luxembourg Garden.  It’s an area known for its lively, narrow and winding streets, its students bookshops, publishing houses, its experimental cinemas, its cafés, and jazz clubs…  Paris'map

In this area, famous institutes of learning among them, the 2 most prestigious lycées (high schools) Henri IV and Louis Le Grand, the Ecole Normale Supérieure, the Sorbonne, the Collège de France, Ecole Normale Sup…… 

This neighborhood is a part of Medieval Paris (Middle Âges : from the XI century to the end of XV century). This area was dominated by the Sorbonne since the Middle Âges. The Paris University was created in 1215, the first in France; 4 subjects were taught : Theology, Arts, Medecine and Law. During the 16th century, there were 40 000 students and 65 colleges. Latin was the common language. 

It gets its name from the common language spoken by theology students who came from all over Europe beginning of the 13th century to study at local university such as the Sorbonne. Latin was spoken in the area until the French Revolution (end of 18th century)

 

Take a walk in the Latin Quarter : the best way to enjoy it !

But one of the best way to enjoy the Latin quarter is to stroll the little streets : rue de la Harpe, rue de la Huchette, rue Galande, rue Saint Julien le Pauvre, rue de la Bucherie, rue Frédéric Sauton… When you walk in the eastern part of the area, you’ll be surprised to see how quiet it is  !

Here are a few Latin Quarter locations and buildings :

Sorbonne Place

Place de la Sorbonne and La Chapelle de la SorbonneThe Chapel was built in the 17th. The place is lined with cafés and shops. It’s one of the favorite haunt for students of the nearby Universities and schools. 

Midnight in Paris  : a famous location of the movie is in the Latin Quarter

Owen Wilson sitting on the steps

Owen Wilson sitting on the steps

Eglise Saint Etienne-du-Mont :

Located on the left side of the Panthéon (just behind).  This church houses of shrine of Sainte Geneviève, patron of Paris and the remains of the great literary figures Racine and Pascal. Its rood screen is gorgeous and really worth a visit.The steps in front of its entrance are where Owen Wilson sat to go back in time in the movie (inMidnight in Paris – Woody Allen). 
(Saint-Etienne-du-Mont church (Latin Quarter) 5 place Sainte Genevieve – Paris 5)

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    Eglise Saint Etienne du Mont

The Panthéon : Conceived (mid 18th century) by Louis XV to honour Sainte Genevieve  (Paris’ patron). With the French Revolution, the church was turned in to a Panthéon. It’s a location for the tombs of France’s great men and women (Voltaire, Rousseau, Pierre and Marie Curie, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola…)

Panthéon

Panthéon

The College de France : one of Paris’s great institutes of research and learning, established by François 1er in 1630. You can easily enter its courtyard.  (College de France’s main entrance :  rue des Ecoles – Paris 5)

College de France courtyard

College de France courtyard

The Middle Âges museum  :
a late 15th century medieval mansion and one of the world’s finest collections of Medieval Art.  (7 rue de Cluny – Paris 5 – RER Cluny Sorbonne or Metro stop Luxembourg or Saint Michel)

Middle Âges Museum

Middle Âges Museum

 

Gallo-Roman Bath

The Gallo-Roman baths : built in AD 200. The baths lasted for about 100 years before being sacked by the Barbarians. Romans settled around the Montagne Saint Genevieve and built Lutecia. They built an acqueduc of 15 kilometers and a network of paved roads, a forum, Baths, theaters…    In the 3 century, Lutecia was a small town of 6000 inhabitants. The remain of the Gallo Roman baths can be visited. (7 rue de Cluny – Paris 5 – Same address than the Middle Âges museum)

Saint Severin church

Saint Severin church

Saint Severin church : a typical Gothic style church. Begun in the 13th century. It took 3 century to build

 

 

 Saint Julien le Pauvre church

Saint Julien le Pauvre church

Saint Julien le Pauvre church and the Paris’ oldest tree : Saint Julien le Pauvre is one of the oldest church in Paris (12 century and rebuilt join the 17th century). An a setting for a lot of music concerts. In the park beside the church : the oldest Paris ‘ tree planted in 1601)

St-Michael Fountain

St-Michael Fountain

The Place Saint Michel : the popular meeting point for students, but not only students, and its fountain (Michaël killing the dragon)              

Some more photos

To experience Paris as a local :  take a walk in the Latin Quarter with Ann Jeanne in Paris

My advice :

  • In my opinion, the best way to enjoy the Latin Quarter is to take your time and stroll the area, go in a café (or several !) to rest and people watch. I suggest the cafés Place de la Sorbonne.
  • Walk to the Place du Panthéon and pay a visit to the Saint Etienne du Mont church just behind the Panthéon and then, sit on the steps where Owen Wilson sat in Midnight in Paris !
  • Spend more time in the eastern part of the area (between rue de la Bucherie and the Panthéon).
  • Take a break at Shakespeare and Company’s cafe : a nice place and lovely pastries and snacks. The coffee is delicious too.  Shakespeare and Company café – rue de la Bucherie – Paris 5 – Metro Saint Michel

Link to the article :  Shakespeare and company 

Nearby Notre Dame

YOUR Private walk, with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian

  • You’d like to feel like a local and having a tour in a Paris neighborhood, but you don’t feel having a tour with a group ?
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